Continuous method of printing textiles and the like and apparatus therefor



' July 23, 1946.

V. CARLSEN ET AL CONTINUOUS METHOD OF PRINTING TEXTILES AND THE LIKE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 16, 1943 S SheetS-Sheet 1 HTTO/PNEXS v. CARLSEN ETAL CONTINUOUS METHOD OF PRINTING TEXTILES AND THE LIKE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15,, 1943 Eiil INVENTOR.

mv M M a w flTTUR VEYS July 23, 1946. I v. CARLSEN ETAL 2,404,350

CONTINUOUS METHOD OF PRINTING TEXTILES AND THE LIKE-AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 16, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 W BY flat, dazgwww Patented July 23, 1946 UNITED PATENT OFF ICE CONTINUQUSJMET-HOD OF PRINTING LTEX- TILES AND .THE LIKE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Application December 16, 1943; SeriaI'No. 514 448 16 LGlaims. 1

.The present, invention relatesttora method for continuous printing of: textiles andtthe likexand apparatus to effect such method; andwthe present application is; a. continuationeineparti of our. applicationv SerialNo. "487,058, filediMay 14,1943.

A general object of :,the invention vis ithe provision of an efilcient continuous method of printing textiles and the like 1 which I is readily practiced, unusually speedy, rminimizes wastage of printed material, makes possible: the elimination of a back. grey, and effects.a veryrgreatsaving in costs. of labor, ginstallation and .operation while assuring the production :of a superior product with a; minimum wear'of equipment and. requirement of replacement of partsyand apparatus to carry out such method- .which' is extremely simple,

very economically constructedgreadily and cheap- 1y operated, sure and-efficient:in:function,..nn-

usually 2 long lived; requires little if any :attention with respect to repair" and replacement of :parts,

isvcharacterized by an endlessbacking blanket of minimumjlengthtundue Wearofwhich is avoided, and which will produce with iunusual speed a ito employia-large press-cylinder about which is looped -,an elongated endless backing ,blanket, made of rubber or ofalaminated water-repellent fabric to constitutes, resilient backing for the work-piece havingan outer surface substantially impervious tomoisture suchtas washing .fiuid. 1n ,the printing of .the work-piece it. is 7. fed between that portion .of the backing blanket which is looped about the press cylinder and a gravure roller trolls thattransfer printing ink from a fount ,or fountsito the work-piece. As the ink is transferred from the gravure rolLor rolls to the work piecesome of it "tends 'topenetrate through the latter to collect on the backing element. Also,

sinceit is desired to'haveth'e designs'or' patterns extend completely to the selvages of the workpiece, the igravure roll orrollsare normally wider than'thework-piece and, as a result, ink'will be applied *directly'to zones of the backing element "beyond the selvages of the work-piece. "Without protection of the backing blanket these ink deposits collect on theouter surface thereof and a "so-smeared blanket will tend, on its return to the press cylinder, to smear or blotch succeeding yardages of the work-piece unless effectively cleansed. It is common pra'ctice to attemptto avoid such smearing and blotching byfeeding' be- (Cl. v101.423)

-2 tween the: workpiece? and the tbackingi'blanket a strip of fabric called a -back. grey which, after use, .is washed 1 to remove. ink or color pastes and then dried for reuse. The-back grey r eventually 1 5 has to be discarded:andthis entails a largeexpense which'may cause anincrease in:production costs-of itheprintedproduct.of as much asonequarter cent a yard. Accordingly, 'attempts have been made to eliminate the necessity of using -a ,lo'hack grey-by washing'an'd drying ithe backing blanket of the printing machine. Such proposals have been featured by: complicated structures requiring unusual andlun'desirably long 'lengths of costly backing blanket :material and by heating means completely to removewthe washing fluids fromtheiblanket; such a drying'can's or heating chambers through which the' 'blanket is passed back and forth; Such structures :have'been expensive to install, operatean'dmaintain and have unduly shortened the life of the blanket. Eurther fore it reaches the gravure roll or rolls heat fwill T be transferred to the latter" -to-- such extent as to -tend to 'congeal iriks -or' color pastescausing'further difi'iculties. Printing machines equipped with such washing and drying means further have made it impractical or impossible to use a' back grey therewith for certain productions wheresuch may be desired.

A more specific object of the invention isthe provision of such a method-"characterized by the employment of an endless backingblanket-Which is led from I the press 1 cylinder directly "to I washing and scrubbing means and substantially :directly therefrom back to-the press cylinderpast mois'ture and Lliritand ink-removingmeans, :whereby a 40 blanket of minimum length is employable =while assuringits return to theprinting "means in a substantially cleansed condition with a :retention in the' printing area of only a veryismallamount of moisture dueito Washing fluid, e.i'g.,'-an amount '45 -which isjust sufficient toihelpahold thewor kepiece in position and enhance-color penetration 'thereof without tendin to make .the colorsruh.

Another object of the invention-is'to provide in V such procedure a mechanical, washingtflui'd removing stepwhich efficiently:eliminatesifrom' the :outer surface ofthe :blanket'exces's fluid without undue wear thereof- A further object of :the "invention visthelprovision of a removal ofialmost all of the moisture .from the :printing area of the blanket byidoctor in the claims.

blade means which removes such washing fluid by Still another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus to effect such procedure which is simple and economically constructed charac- 1 teriZed y washing and scrubbing means which.

limits cleaning and wetting action tothe inksmeared printing area of the blanket, thereby avoiding creeping of moisture to the back of the blanket and eliminating difliculties that would attendant thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide suchapparatus which removes almost all of the washing fluid without undue wear, by doctor blade means, of the important area of the blanket, i. e., the printing area, due to automatic lubrication thereof by the washing fluid.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a method and such apparatus for effecting the same which efficiently eliminate or minimize the difliculties attendant'upon the accepted practices of the prior art which have come to be thought of by those skilled in the art as being unavoidable necessary evils or eliminable only in part at the expense of other desired characteristics. r r

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

blanket II] has a loop ll thereof passed around a press cylinder [2 to provide a resilient facing for the cylinder to act as a printing backing. A printing or gravure roll l3, of which a plurality may be-provided when desired, has an engraved surface rotating against a pick-up roll I4 immersed in ink or color paste fount 15. A roll I6 of textile or the like supplies a workpiece H to between the loop ll of the backing blanket and the gravure roll IS. The backing blanket I0 is carried over an idle supporting roll l8 fixed on The invention accordingly comprises the several steps andthe relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, and the apparatus embodying features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which are adapted toeifect such steps, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated "For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevational View, with a parts brokenaway and in section, of an embodiment' of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational section of washing, scrubbing and moisture-removing means taken on1line 2-2 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section, with parts broken away, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional view 1 of press cylinder, backing blanket and ink-applying means showing a work-piece in printing position, and taken on line 4-4 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary face or elevational view of the ink-smeared blanket after it has passed the washing and scrubbing means, graphically indicating the dual action of an embodiment of the doctor blade shown therein;

.Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are enlarged fragmentary views of portions of the blanket and different embodiments of the doctor blade of the invention which may be employed in the practice of the latter and showing different positions thereof which are possible; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary'face view on an enlarged T scale of the blanket and associated doctor blade ap ical y showing features of characteristic fluid removing and cleaning operations.

. Referring to the drawings, like numerals identify like parts throughout. An endless backi a shaft 19 supported in an upright-frame structure 2U. Blanket I0 is then carried down beneath an idle roll 21 fixed on a shaft 22 rotatably supported on the frame 2!! and carrying a spur gear 23. The blanket I0 is carried from roll 2! substantially directly back to the press cylinder withoutproceeding through any drying means characterized by an elongated path. Preferably a reach or portion 24 of the blanket it moves from idle roll 2| upwardly at. an acute angle with a vertical plane to a tensioning roll 25 and then over an idle roll 26 on its return to press-cylinder E2.

The frame structure 20 supports washing and scrubbing means which may comprise a brush roll 21 partially immersed in a bath 28 of washing fluid contained inan elongated pan or trough 29 fitted with an'overflow pipe 30 to predetermine the level of the washing fluid therein, The brush roll 21 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of the blanket as it is carried beneath the roll 2| by means of a spur gear 3| which is meshed with an idle gear 32 in turn meshed'wlth gear 23. It will be understood that one or more, such as two or three, brush rolls 21 may, if desired, be operated from gear 23 and employed to scrub the outer surface of the. blanket ll] as it passes around the roll 23.

Although washing fluid may be supplied to the outer surface of the blanket as it passes beneath the roll 23 solely by the brush 21 due to the partial immersion of the latter in the bath 28 thereof, it is preferably chiefly supplied by spraying means. This spraying means may comprise an elongated nozzle 33,-such as a piece of pipe closed at one end, provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures for egress of washing fluid and fitted with a flexible supply hose 34. The spraying nozzle 33 which is adapted to supply washing fluidto the outer surface of the blanket after it has left the scrubbing means is prefer- I ably flexibly supported or suspended for free latdiately from the press cylinder I2 by the washing and scrubbin means there is an insuflicient time interval for the inks thoroughly to, dry thereon.

.However, it has been found to be desirable to arrange a similar spray nozzle I33 suspended by flexible supports or chains I35, I35 from similar brackets I36, I36 fixed to the frame structure 20 ahead of the scrubbing means or brush. roll 21.

Spray nozzle 133 may also be equipped with separate guide projections but preferably is fixed to npzzle .33 for laterakmovement-ztherewithaby rods 3! which .constitutethaguidesifor nozzles. .-Excess swashingfiuid aisqremoyed qf-rom the -blanket-in accordance "withgthe, present- .invention means 40. is splineda spurgear 43 ,meshed with' a worm 44 rotatably supported, :such as iibypthe .end bearing structure 42, :and fitted with ahand wheel 45 so that by manipulation thereof-shaft 49 ,andblade support..-3 9 .may berotatecl. An l elongated, relativelythinn doctor bladeaqd; pref- ..erably I of .metal .such .as :steel, {01' other; suitable rigid, material which; may; resist corrosion by, 'the chemicals, is, mounted upon the rotatable: support .39 hndiisprovided with; portion. having.- are1alltivel sharp .edge .58 adapted .to J ress firmly against .the outerhsurface; of the reach 2-4 70f the blanket. l0, asismo-re clearly indicated in -Fig. '6, with the edge .,portio.n'.41.lyingesubstantiallyin a plane'whichmake's anacute angle a, such as about 45,with..the surface-.of the .blanketreach .24 on the leading. sideof the blade edge 48.

will assure plowing, action -.for removal of almost 'all ,of the washing fluid which ,iscarried lip-by 1 the ,outersurface of the b1anket1tothe blade- 46.

As shown .in .Figs. .1,.2,and.-5, the elongated .doctorlb'la'de 461s. supported ina manner so that the ,Jsharpedge '48cthereof is disposed obliquely across the, outerfaoe of the.blanketreach. and exten'dedatbothends beyondthe edges of the blanket, tocarry. ofi .to ablanket edge;bya,-sheering action, any .lint and .ink particles which :may

.remain .within "the printing .area of the :outer ,blanket surface. 'JIhis oblique arrangement also f assures that the blanket joint, ,if .there be one,

This

.AEig. 4,-but,.if, desired1.smay .be determined bya the .overall length .of the :roll :13. alone.

saryithat'these depositions of inks or colors be "which .is usually ldisposed straight ,across ,the

*blanketj'face, .Will pass .underthe .blade edgewith- .out tendency ,of the latter toucatch therein and cause tearing. or damage.

I It willflbe understood that with wateresoluble inks 'or' color pastes, .which may. comprise colors and starch, the washingfluid may consist of warm water. at .a temperature of .about .120 :F., .but ifthe1inks .are ofthe .watereinsolubleitype other suitable washing. fluids or solvents; such; as a sulphonated oil, 1 maybe employed. In the ,practice of the invention, the workpiece'll is fedfromthe supply-roll lfi to between the constantly rotating press cylinder l:2;and the ,gravure .roll l3 with the .constantlymoving backingblanket It! being. interposedbetweenthe.work- ,piece I] and the presscylinder 1-2 as shown in .Fig. ,1. gravure. roll 'l3.,is. separated from thehlanket I 0 and preferably 1e d. upwardly "to drying apparatus, not shown.

As, shown .in Fig. 4 .the effective ink-applying length of gravure rolll3 isrsubstantially less' than the width of the blanket l0 :SoaSttOdGfiIlBflflIlki'ng .zones or; margins 49,49 of the .outer .blanket .surface .to which in will not beappliedas is clearly indicatedin Fig. 5. :With blankets-which mayvary in widthfrom fortyito fiftylinches such The work-piece 1.1 after passin the .in'kefree margins 49, AB will each preferably {be relatively narrowfelt bandorlappingfil on the press cylinder [2 which is narrower thaniblanket ill to permit edges of the .latter to @bow inward toward the press cylinder .-surface as shown in scrubbed and washed from the blanket outer surface to avoid smearingand blotching of the work-piece. Also, lint particles from the Workpiece [7 should-be .removed from the blanket outer surface before the blanket is returnedto thepress cylinder lizso as to avoidprinting 'difii- ..culties.

To cleanthe blanket Ill it is passed through the scrubbing and Washing means Where washing fluid .isisprayed fupon the printing area'50 by spraying nozzle I33 without wetting the flanking margins 49,49. The wetted printingarea'ill ref theblanket isthen scrubbed by the brush roll.

2:! whichlloosensxthe depositions of inksor colors and removesa large amount thereof also without wetting at least the outer portions offlanking margins 43, 49. Thus the effective scrubbing surface of brush rolli2'! mustbe of a 'widthap- ,preciabiy less than that of the blanket'lll. At

least some of the'lint and ink particles whichpass the'scrubbing roll 21 are then washed free from the printing area 'Bll-by'the spraying nozzle 33, again without wettingthe flanking margins '49, 49'.

The upward passage of the reach 24 of blanket Alla-will. minimize the amount of washingfluid carried in the printing area past the spraying device 33 sincesorne of it will fall or flow back toward and into the trough 2.9. The washing fluid carried along'bythe blanket surface, diagrammatically irn'iicated by substantially parallel lines'at as in- Figs-B, e and' 9,.which remainslin the printing area 5E will "be .carriiedup tothe doctor'bla'de 46 where almost all ofit isplowed from the blanketouter surface by the relatively sharp blade edge l? to 'fall ,or flow back ,along the blanket surface, as indicated at .15.}! .in .Eigs. "6, 7 and 9, intoor toward .thetroughZS. -.It has been found in practice that this ,plowing .action is a verydistinctive.operationland thatthe fluid does not Work along the .edge .of the bladet in contact with .the blanket surface to lWet-Fthe dry margins l9, 4'9 of the -latter. 'Thesharpcorner edge 48 ,of the .blade .46 is desirably provided .by forming the .edge face substantially -(-but not necessarily, precisely) .at right angles to the outer surfacefifiof the .blade,.thereby spacing theother corner edge .56 from the blanket outer :surface. This. is an importantfeature; as .will be seen from Figs. 5. and 9.whereit. is indicated at. ET-that-small amounts of washing fluid and perhapssoine ink therewith creepsupto ltheouter surface .55 ,of blade 4 3 and then flows t -realcng, .ae

pathzfifi,ato-clrip offfthe end1a .53. This'isrthe observe-:1 operation.

The doctor ,lolade a sfi desirably 'does not remove entirely all of the washing flu-id from the moisture-impervious blanket outer zsurfa'cebut 'p'ertion' of a percent, .toaremainzin ttheeprinting area wduce millions of yards of printed fabrics.

fOIfDIOmOtiOII of the printing operation. This slight amount of moisture in the printing area is of importance since it helps to hold the workpiece I! in position during the printing operation and permits effective penetration of the fabric with the inks or colors. However, the percentage of retained moisture must not be so great as to cause the inks or colors to run when the worktional adjustment of the doctor blade by means of the hand wheel 45. I

Undue wear of the outer surface of the blanket in-the printing area 50 by the relatively sharp edge 48 of the doctor blade pressed thereagainst is avoided by lubrication inherently afforded by the washing fluid. It has been found in practice that the doctor blade eventually does produce some noticeable wear in the drymargins 49, 49 while causing relatively little if any apparent wear in the printing area even after the soequipped printing machine has been used to pro- Of course it is apparent that the wear in the dry margins is of no importance since these zones of the outer surface of the blanket have no function in the printing operation. 7

Such lint and ink or color particles, graphically indicated inFig. at 60,.as may remain in the printing area after the blanket has passed the sprayingdevice 33 will becollected ahead of the edge 48. ofthe doctor blade as indicated at 6! and almost all'of it, except possibly some amount of color which becomes dissolved in the washing fluid, will be sheered obliquely along in the direction of the arrows to the edge of the blanket at 62 there to fall away from-the latter as indicated in an exaggerated manner in Fig. 5 for clarity. This action has also been observed.

It will thus be seen that the depositions of inks or colors to the outer surface of the blanket are limited to a printing area flanked by marginal zones whichremain free from such deposition and that thewashing and scrubbing are accomplished in a manner so that approximately only the printing area is wetted with a maintenance of the dry flanking margins at the blanket edges to prevent creeping of washing fluid to the inside surface of the'blanket thereby avoiding any difficulties which would be attendant upon such condition. Such difficulties would include transfer of moisture from the wet back of the blanket to the-felt lapping 5| soon causing the latter to be compacted and hard necessitatin its removal and replacement. That felt lapping is very expensive. Removal and replacement of the lapping necessitates complete dismantling of the printing machine. Dismantling and rebuilding of the printing machine and replacement of the lapping may require about six Thus it is seen that wetting of tremely important that the blanket be returned to the press'cylinder with the back of the former dry. The dry surfaces of the blanket at its'edges resist wetting by any tendency of the washing fluid to run laterally and longitudinal motion of, the blanket and the upward positioning of parts thereof in the washing and fluid-removing ,means further assure the dryness of the margins.

' Further it' willEbe noted that almost all of'such washing fluid as remains within the printing area doctor blade but, preferably, is obtained by rotais removed'by a definite plowing action which avoid wetting of the clean dry margins while assuring retention of a very small amount of moisture for promotion of the printing operation. Any lint and ink particles which remainin the printing area after 'passing beyond'the spraying device 33 are effectively removed by a definite sheering action obliquely across the blanket surface to an edge thereof where they fall away therefrom.

The simple apparatus described above while permitting effective elimination of a back grey for many operations where its employmentis not desired does not prevent'its use'if it should be desired for certain operations. The apparatus doesnot interfere'in any way with the feed of "a back grey between the work-piece I1 and the backing blanket 10 as contrasted with other ma present time employ back greys indicating that prior art proposals with regard to blanket washing and drying apparatus have not been entirely satisfactory. This practice is quite generally followed despite the fact that the employment of back greys costs a printing plant thousands of dollars monthly and that the cost of handling and rewashing them is also very large. An apparatus'of the present invention equipped as described above has been found to be readily and efficiently operable at aprinting'speed upwards of one hundred yard per minute which, in this art, is an unusually fast speed and it "is to'be understood that the cleaning and'washingfluidremoving means of thepresent invention places no practical limitations on the speed at which the machine may operate. One apparatus of the present invention has produced more than two million yards of printed textiles and to allappearances the backing blanket therof'is in as good or better condition than when this machine was first adapted to the present invention, al-

though that backing blanket was not new at the s time the machine was provided with the cleaning and drying means of the present invention. As contrasted therewith,'in our experience machines equipped with heating driers generally limit the life of a blanket to about one million yards. This particular machine of. the present invention has brought about a net saving of at least $5,000 in back greys alone, but this saving in back greys maybe considered to be merely incidental. Better workmanship and production of a superior product, the great increase in output, and saving in amounts of inks or color pastes and ingredients thereofused are also vital factors 0f the economyefiected.

It is to'be understood that the term method.

of printing as employed herein is to be broadly construed as encompassingif necessary the operational steps of and complete functioning of machines for applying Various types of fluids or pastes to textiles and the ,like in patterns or designs to give discernible contrasting effects either with respect to'contrasting colors, or as to visual contrasts in physical characteristics, such as the application of color pastes or mercerizing fluids and the like, inclusive of interdependent procedural steps attendant upon a con- "tinuous modus operandi; "and that the term 9T; P nt g k is I to bebroadly. construed; as, including within itsscope all suchpastes .orifluids' or similar materials employed to effect such results which are capable 'of being dissolved-or removed from'parts of suchmachines, suchas backingblankets therof; by suitable cleansing or washing fluids or solvents. The term substantially directly back is employed herein in connection with the return of the backing blanket from the washing means and/or washingfluidstripping means, 9. g., the washing sprays, scrubbing brush and doctor blade, to the press cylinder or printing station. The apparatus and method of the presentinvention are thus distinguishable from those wherein the backing cylinder is moved over heated drying" cans,

throughqhotdrying chambersor past other moisture-removing means; which employ such amounts of heat to effect removal ofwashing fluid in the vapor phase, as to raise the temperature'of the backing blanket orsurface thereof to a destructive degree. Obviously that term is not used in the sense that the backing blanket is returned from the washing and/or washing fluid-removal means directly back to the press cylinder'a'long a straightaline path asjis clear from the disclosure wherein, as indicated in Fig. 1 for example, the backing vblanket'aiter it leaves the fluidf-stripping means, ordoctorjblade 24, may be trained over, about or back :and forth between deviating'means, such as'take-up or tensioning rolls or idle rollers e; g., rolls 25, and 26. Removal of the major portion of the washing fluid, hotor cold, from the washed area of the outer surface of the backing blanket is effected in liquid state, i. e., washing fluid'is stripped from the blanket'as a flowing liquid, as distinguished fromremovaliofwtmshing'fluid in vapor phase by converting the liquidlto vapor with blanketdamaging heat by means of excessively hot drying cans or chambers, andthe like.

It will thus be seen that. the objects set forth above, among others which will be. apparent to those ,skilled in the art, "are eflicientlyv attained by thepresent' invention. and, since certain changes in carrying out the above processand in the construction set forth, which embody the. invention, may bemade Without departing from its scope, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown. in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as 'illustrative and not in a limitingsense. 5 i

It is also to be understood that thefoll'owing claims are intended to cover allof the generic and specific features of theinventionherein described, and all statements ofithe, scope of the invention which, as a matter. of language, might be said to fall .therebetween. 7

Having described our invention, what we .claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A continuous method of: printing, textiles and the like comprising feeding printing inkto. printing means having a maximum. effective inkapplyingwidth to definetl'ie width of a printingj area, passing over a rotating press cylinder a loop of an elongated endless backing blanket having a substantially moisture-impervious outer surface which is wider than the. maximum effective ink-applying width. of said means, printing an elongated strip of material by feeding it between saicl'printing means and said loop of said backing blanket and thereby defining a' printing area in'an inner zone of"theputer surfaceofsaid blanket and substantiallyink free flanking margins, separating-the: printed strip. of'material. from saidblanket.andxguidingithe latter to and through washing means, washing. with washingfluidzthe ink-smeared printing area ofthe outer surface.

of said blanketas theilattermoves: along while restricting the: wetting of. the outer. surface; of

said blanket substantially totne inner. zone in:

clusiveof the printing area thereby; retaining: substantially dry margins flanking-the washed.

area,.. removing almost alll of; the: washing .fiuid from the. washed; area of said" blanket: without wetting atileastthe outer" portionsgofzithe dry: margins thereof,'. and, moving; the moisture-sure v faced blanket'substantially directly back .to said: press cylinder with a retentionof; a very: small. amount of moisture in the Wetted--area for" promotion of theprinting operation;

ing a substantially moisture-impervious outerssunface which is wider than the maximum effective;-

ink-applying width of said means, printing; an

elongated strip of material byfeedingitbetween. saidtprinting means. and .said loop of. said back ing blanket andthereby. defininga printing area:

in an; inner zone of, the outer surfacesof said as'the latter moves along while. restricting the wetting, of; the .outerjsurface of 7 said blanket sub-I stantially to the inner zon inclusive of: the printing area. thereby retaining: substantially dry mar;-

gins flanking the washed area, removing ;.almost1 all ,of the washingfluid. from the .wash'edi areaof 1 saidblanket' without wetting: at least theouter. portions .of thedry margins thereof, and moving the moistureesurfaced blanket'substantially; di-. re'ctly back to said; press cylinder. with. aretention of a very small amount. of moisture in. the.

wetted areaforpromotion of the:printing;.operation. 1

3.. A, continuous method: of. printing; textiles and'the like. comprising feeding. printinginks. to printing rmeansihaving a: maximum effective inke applying width to define theswidth of. a printing.

- area, passingover a. rotatihgpress cylinder a' looprofjan elongated. endless backing.- blanket hav ing .a substantially moisture-impervious-outersurfacewhichiswider than themaximum effective. ink-applying; widthof saidv means, printing, an... elongated; strip. of material byfeedingit betweensaid printingmeans and said'loop of saidbacking blanket and thereby. defining aprinting areain aninner. zone. or the outer. surface of saidblanket' and-substantially ink-free fl'ankingmargins, sep

arating the.v printed. strip of" material from said.

of the printing area-thereby retaining substan-- tially dry margins flanking thewashed area,

moving' said washed blanket I from said washing means to meansfor removing washing fluid, removing by saidlast named means almost all of ii i the washing fluid in liquid state from'the washed? area of said blanket without wetting at least the outerportions'of the dry margins thereof, and the'nmoving the moisture-surfaced blanket substantially at room temperature back to said press cylinder from said washing fluid-removal means with a retention of a very small amount of moisture in the wetted area for promotion of the printing operation. o

4. A continuous method of printing textiles and the like comprising feeding printing ink to printing means having a maximum effective inkapplyingwidth to define the width'of a printing area, passing over a rotating press cylinder a loop of an elongated endless backing blanket hav-; inng a substantially moisture-impervious outer surface which is wider than the maximum effective ink-applyingwidth of said means, printing 1 an elongated strip of material by feeding it betweensaid printing means and said loop of said;

backing blanket and thereby defining a printing area in an inner zone of the outer surface 'of said blanket and substantially ink-free flanking margins, separating the printed strip of material from said blanket and guiding the latter to andthrough washing. means, washing with-washing fluid the ink-smeared area of the outer-surfac of said blanket as the latter moves alongwhile restricting the wetting of the outer surface of said blanket substantially to the inner zone inclusive'of thev printing area thereby retaining substantiall dry margins flanking the'washed area, moving said I washed; blanket upwardly awayfrom said washingfmeans to and past a, doctor blade, pressing saididoctor bladeagainst the washed outer surfacelof said blanket as the latter moves therepast; removingpby said blade with a plowing ac tionialmost'all of thewashingfluid from the washed area ofsaid blanket without wetting at cylinder from said blade with a-retention of a a very small amount of moisture in the wetted;

area for promotion of th printing operation.

-5.' A continuous method of printing textiles and the like comprising feeding printing ink to printing means having a maximum effective ink-v applying width to definefthe' width of a printing area; passing over a rotating press cylinder a loop of' an elongated endless'backing blanket hav ing asubstantially moisture-impervious outer surface which is wider thanthe maximum ffective ink-applying width of said means, printing an disposed obliquelyacros's the outer surfaceof said blanket, removing byvsaid blade with a plowing action almost all ,of'the washing, fluid from-they; w-ashed'area' of said blanket withoutiwetting at least'the outer portions of thedry marginsjthere-- of and causing "the removed washing fluid to flow j back with respect to the direction of motionof;

said blanket; causingby the oblique arrangement of said blade and' the upward *travel of-said;' blankettherepast asheering off-of lint and ink particles to an-edge of said blanket, j and then moving said-blanket substantially at room ternperature back to said press cylinder fromsaid blade with a retention 'of a very small amount of moisture in, the wetted area for promotion of the printing operation. a

6. Apparatus for continuous printing of textiles and the like comprising, in combination, a rotary press cylinder, an elongated endless backing blanket having a substantially 'moisture-impervious outer surface with aloop thereof passed,

around said cylinder, printing ink-applying means of an effective width appreciably less than the width of saidblanket to define the widthof a printing area flanked by margins of appreciable width, washing means receiving said blanket from said cylinder of a length substantially less than fthatmay remain after washing while retaining elongated strip of material by feeding it between said printihg means and said loop of said backing blanket and thereby defining a printing area in an inner zone of the outer surface of said blanket and substantially ink-free flanking margins, separating the printed strip of ,material from said 5 blanket and. guiding the latter to and'through washing :means,z washing with washing fluid'the ink-,smearedgareaof the outer surface of said blanket as the latter moves along while restricting the wetting'of the outer surface of said' blanket substantially 'to the inner zone inclusive of the printing areathereby retaining substantially dry margins flanking the washed area, moving said washed "blanket upwardly away from saidwashinggmeans to and past a doctorgblade,-pressing 3 saiddoctor blade againstthewashed outer surface of said blanket as the latter-'moves"therepast: th. the e e porti nx ai 'b adqbe blade extending at each end beyond theedges dry blanket Vmar'gins to assure prevention of creepage of moisture to the back surface of said blanket, and means to pass said dry-back blanket from said washing and washing fluid-stripping means substantially directly back to saidfcylinder.

7. Apparatusfor continuous printing of textiles and the like comprising, incombination a rotary; press cylinder, an elongated endless backing blanket having a substantially moisture impervious outer surface with a loop thereof passed around said cylinder, printing ink-applying means of an effective width appreciably less thanthe Y width of said blanket to define the width of a v printing area flanked by margins of appreciable width, washing and scrubbing means receiving said blanket from said cylinder including brush ting the flanking margins, means to pass said blanket upwardly from said washing'andsorubbing means and substantially directly back to said cylinder, and a relatively thin elongated doctor of said blanket and having its edge face disposed substantially at right angles to the extended outer surface of its edge portion to "provide an inner relatively sharp edge pressing against the outer surface of ,said blanket with. at least the edge 8. Apparatus for continuous printing of textiles and the like comprising, in combination a rotary press cylinder, an elongatedl endless backing blanket having a substantially moisture-imper vious'outer surface with a'loop thereof passed around said'cylinder, printing ink-applying means i an; Qfi PtiYQ Wmthi a e eq bl PhanIi E width: of said "blanket to "define: the width. of a printing area-flanked by margins of appreciablewidth, washing, and scrubbing means receiving I said blanket from said cylinder'of a lengthsubstantially less than the width of said blanket to treatwith Washing: fluid the printing area while avoidingwetting the flanking margins, an elongated doctor blade extendingat each endbeyond the edges of said blanket and having a relatively sharp edge pressing against the outer surface of said blanket with at' leastthe edge portion of said blade lying substantially in a plan which makes an acute angle with the blanket surface on the leading side of saidvrelatively sharp edge, means" supporting said bladefor'adjustable rotationa about a'longitudin-al axis for varying the angular relationship between said blade and the outer surface of said blanket and the pressure of the former. on the latter, and means to pass said blanket from said washing and scrubbing means substantially directly back to saidcylinder,

past and in surface contact with said blade without subjectinggthe blanket to action of any other/ blanket surface-treating means.

9; Apparatusfor continuous printing of textiles and'the like comprising, in' combination a rotary press" cylinder, an elongated endless backing blanket-having a substantially. moisture-impere vious outer surface with a loop thereof passed around said cylinder, printing ink-applying means of an effective width appreciably less than the I width .of said blanket to define the widthofga printing area flanked by rnargins of appreciable width; washing'and scrubbing means receiving saidcblanket from said: cylinderxincluding brush 'means of a length substantially less than the.

portion of said' blade lying substantially in av plane; which makes 'an. acute angle with the 14,, plan lwhichtmakes an acute angle withthe blanket surface on-theleading side'ofsaidrrelatively, sharp edge, means supporting: said blade :forrog tation'about a longitudinalaxis,gear means fixed. to said blade, and manual control. meansufor operating said gear means for varying the. angularrelationship between said blade and the outer surface of said blanket. I 11; Apparatus for continuous printing of sex:- tiles:and the like comprising, incombinationra rotarypress cylinder, an elongated endless back ing. blanket having a substantially moisture-1m:

pervious outer surface with a loop'thereof passed; around said cylinder, printing ink applying means of an effective width appreciably less than the; width of: said blanket to define the width of a printing area flanked by margins of appreciable, Width, washin and scrubbing means receiving:- said" blanket from said cylinderincluding brush. means of a length substantially less than; the width of said blanket andmeans to. supplyiwashing. fluid to the printingilarea while avoiding" wettingsthe flanking margins, said'washing fluid supply means comprising a nozzle structure adapted to: direct jets of Washing fluid only against the printing area floatingly supported'for moves ment transversely: of the path of said blanketand'guide means adapted to receive the running. 1

edges of 'saidblanket and connected to said;nozzle structure whereby the. latter willbe moved laterally with any weaving movement: of said I blanket, means to? passsaid blanket: from said washing, and scrubbing" means 1 substantially di=- rectly back to said cylinder, and means located:

between. saidi cylinderi andz'said washing and I scrubbing meanslcontacting the outer surface of said blanket to remove any remaininglint and u ink particles and almost all of the washing fluidwith a retention of a very small amount'ofimois promotion of. the i around said cylinder, printing ink-applying means a blanket surface onlthe leading side of said edge and with the'latter disposed obliquely across the outer face of said blanket; .and means supporting saidv blade for" adjustable" rotation about a longitudinal axis'for varying the angular relationship between said blade and the outer surface of said blanket; V

10.\'Apparatus for continuous printing of textiles-and the like comprising, in combination, a rotary press cylinder, an elongated endless backing blanket having a substantially moisture-impervious outer surface with a loopthereof passed around said cylinder, printing ink-applying means of an. effective width appreciably less than the width of said blanket to defin the width of a printing area flanked by "margins of appreciable width, washing and scrubbing means receiving" of an effective width appreciably less than the" width of said blanket to define the Width of'a printing' are'aflanked by margins of appreciable width, washing and scrubbing means receivingsaid blanket from-said cylinder including a scru-b- A bing roll of a length sufiicient to scrub the inksmeared printing area of the outer surfacelofsaid'blanket but less than the widthlof the latter, and a washing fluid spraying device adapted to spray the printing area of said blanket without spraying; the flanking margins of said blanket, said spraying device comprising a nozzle struc-"- ture adapted to directljets of washing fluid only against the printing area floatingly supported for movement transversely of the path ofsaid blanket andguide means adapted to'receive the, running edges ofsaid blanket and connected to said'nozzle structure whereby the latter willbe moved laterally with any Weaving movement of said blanket, means to pass said blanket from said Washing and scrubbing means substantially directly back to said cylinder, and a doctor blade located between said cylinder and said washing and scrubbing means pressing against the outer surface of said blanket to remove any-remaining lint and ink particles and almost all of the wash-- ing fluid with a retention of a very small amount of moisture in the printing area for promotion of the printing operation.

l 14. In an apparatus 1' textiles and the like with. the employment of an,- Z elongated endless backing blanket having a subsaid'blade extending at both ends beyondv the oftextilesand the like'with theemployment of l r r 16 printing fluid-applying Width to define the width of a printing area, backing the moving textile-j fabric at the printing station with a substantially? 5 anelongated endless backing blanket having a substantially moisture-impe'rviousv outer surface? whichiis greater in'width than the effective'width of printing Link-applying means, washing and drying means comprising means to wash the area 1 1 of the surface of said blanket defined by the ink-applyingv means without wetting flanking margins, blanket guiding means to provide a run thereof extending upwardly away from said washl ing means, and an'elongateddoctor blade to be 1 held in contact with the outer surface of the 'I upward run of the blanket; the edge'portion of edges of the blanket and'lyin'g substantially in l a plane which will make an acute angle with the 1 outer surface of the blanket on the leading. side almost all of the washing fluid in a liquid state blade being disposed obliquely across the outer surface of the blanket to carry off by sheering I of the blade'to remove with a plowing action' moisture-impervious outer surface of an endless dry-back blanket widerfrom edgeto edge than the maximum eflective width of the printing means to receive excess printing fluid, the backing blanket being looped about the press cylinder and moving with it and the fabric, printing the moving elongated strip of the fabric at the printing station by such passage with a feed of printing fluidto the printing means thereby defining on the outer surface of' the blanket a printing area in an inner zone thereof and flanking margins at the blanket edgessubstantially free of printing fluid, progressively separating the printed & strip of fabric from the blanket beyond the printing station leaving" the printing area of the outer surface of a run thereof smeared with printi'ng'fluid and the flanking margins substantially clean and dry, progressively moving the smeared blanket run to a washing station remote action lint and ink particles to an edge of the tactwith the'blanketgsurface with'that construction serving to. avoid wetting the flanking mar- 1 gins.

for' continuous printingof r e blankeuthe edge portion terminating in an edge 1 face disposed substantially at right angles to the 1 extended outer surface of the edge portion to provide an inner relatively sharp edge for .con- 1 from the printing station and there Washing the printing fluid from the smeared printing area with a cleaning liquid as the blanket moves along while restricting the wetting of the blanketouter surface being washed substantially'to the inner zone inclusive of the printing area thereby retaining'; substantially dry margins flanking the washed'area, progressively advancing the washed blanket from the washing station to liquid-stripping means and there removingjfrom'the washed stantially moisture-impervious outer surface-i which is greater in width than the effective width l of printing'ink-applying means, washing and dry-' i 3 ing means comprisingmeans to wash the area of 1 i the, surface of'said blanket defined by the inkapplying'means without 'wetting flanking margins, '1 blanket guiding means to'provide a run there-. 1 of extending obliquely upwardly away from said 1 Washing means, and a swiveled doctor blade overhung by the oblique upward run of the'blanket, 3 the edge portion of said blade extending at both. j ends beyond the edges, of the blanket and lying substantially in a plane which will make an acute angle'with the outer surface of .thegblanket on the leading side of the blade to remove with a 1 plowing action'almost all ofthe washing fluid in a liquid state from the'washed area -with areten- 1 tion on the washed area of a thin film of liquid to be carriedtherewith to the ink-applying means to promote the printing operation, the edge porv tion of said bladebeing' disposed obliquely across the outer surface of the blanket to carry off by sheering action lint and ink particles to an edge of the blanket, the edge portion terminating 'in an edge face disposed substantially at right an- '1 gles to the extended outer-surface of the edge. portion to providev an inner relatively sharp edge, for'contact with the blanket surface with that a construction serving to avoid margins.

wetting the flanking .rectly backto said cylinder.

area of the moving blanket at least the major I, quantity of the cleaning liquidin liquid state. without wetting at least the. outsideedge portions. 1 of the dry margins of the'outer surface of said blanket while maintaining its backsurface in.

substantially dry 'condition,"and thereafter re-" turning the cleaned and stripped dryf-backblan ket progressively back to the printing station to provide the so processedouter. surface thereof for backing textile fabric to be thereafter printed.

16. Apparatus'for continuous printing of textiles and thelike comprising, in combination, .a rotary press cylinder, an elongated endless backing blanket having a substantially moisture-im pervious outer surface with a loop thereof passed i around said cylinder, printing ink-applying means of an effective 'width' appreciably less than the width of said blanket to define the width of a printingarea flanked by margins of appreciablewidth, washing'and scrubbing means receiving said blanket from said cylinder and. including washing fluid-applying means. and brush means respectively of a length substantially.lessthan thewidth of said blanket to wash. and scrub the printing area .with washing fluid leaving dry flanking margins of the blanket outer surface, ,washing fluid-stripping means beyond said washing and scrubbing means to remove almost all of the washing'fluid in liquid state from thewashed and scrubbed area of said blanket with removal .of lint and-ink particles. thatmay remain after washing while retaining dry blanket marginsto assure prevention of creepageof moisvture to the backsurface, of saidfbl-anket, and

means to pass said dry-backblanket from said washing fluid-stripping gmeans substantially. di-

VIGGO CARLSEN. ALWIN HEINRICH.

- DONAL. BALLOU. 

